Goals for 2K6

Here's my To-Do list for the coming year...

1. Move to New York City.
It's time. It's been time. No more pining for the Big Apple. Action, action, action.

2. Go back to Africa for a couple months.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: African hip-hop is ON FIRE right now. It's only a matter of time til the world wakes up to this fact. The hip-hop generation in Africa is mad talented and seriously motivated. Speaking of which, shout out to Ugandan MC Iron African. He's super dope. Download a couple of his track snippets. Better yet, buy his damn album.

3. Finish my book.
The first one, that is. :)

4. Keep working out with my personal trainer and get some Janet Jackson abs.
To balance out all that time I spend cooking and eating--and looking at cookbooks, and talking and thinking about food.

5. Interview 50 and Mase.
What's up with The Pastor on G-Unit Records anyway?

6. Interview Hova.
In the words of Kanyeezy: shoot for the stars and you'll fall on a cloud. (Cheesy? Maybe. But still, an effective strategy.)

7. Interview Saigon.
It's his year, I'm sure of it.

8. Spend a week or two in England, France, Germany, Australia, South Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, and Columbia. Go back to Japan.
That's for all you fake-ass, lazy journalists who are jumping on global hip-hop's jock and feeding off my research. You can lead 'em to the hot scenes, but you can't make 'em think. Don't think I won't do you like Jay did Mobb Deep.

9. Make money, make money.

10. Get my gourmet on. Learn a bunch of new recipes. Figure out how to fix Indian food.
Because there's nothing better than cooking for friends and fam.

There's a couple more items on the list, but I'm going to keep those hush hush for now. Suffice to say they all have to do with coming up in the game--articles I wanna write, editors I wanna work with, places I wanna publish.

Happy New Year!

Top 10 Books 2005 (Fiction)

I read a lot. Like about a book a week on average. Everyone is always asking me for book recommendations. So here's my top ten fav books from this year, in no particular order. (I kinda cheated in that not all of these books were published this year. I just found them this year.)

Rattawut Lapcharoensap Sightseeing
Adam Mansbach Angry Black White Boy
Adam Mansbach Shackling Water
Danzy Senna Caucasia
Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez Playing With Boys
Danyel Smith Bliss
Danyel Smith More Like Wrestling
Jhumpa Lahiri The Namesake
William Gibson Pattern Recognition
Christina Garcia Monkey Hunting

Review of Danyel Smith's Bliss

My review of Danyel Smith's Bliss finally ran in today's Straight. Check it out. I'll be posting my Top 10 Books 2005 list later today too.

Top 10 Singles 2005

Pouring rain here in Van City. Listening to Ms. Dynamite's "Put Your Gun Away" and The Clipse's "Zen" and chilling.

The end of the year is always a quiet time for me. I get real reflective and think about the year that's passed, and then contemplate the year to come. I make loads of lists (top albums, top singles, top books, top movies). I read a couple of motivation and success books (here's the current one), and write out my goals (yeah, I geek like that). Anyway...this year, since I have a blog, I'm gonna share. Here's the first of a several lists...

My Top 10 Singles (in no particular order)

Amerie "1 Thing"
Ciara featuring Ludacris "Oh"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger"
The Game featuring 50 Cent "Hate It or Love It"
Destiny's Child featuring T.I. and Lil' Wayne "Soldier"
Young Jeezy featuring Akon "Soul Survivor"
Kanye West featuring Jay-Z "Diamonds From Sierra Leone"(Remix)
Common "The Corner"
K'naan "Soobax" (Somalia/Canada)
Pro Kid "Soweto" (South Africa)

Festivus

I'm back, baby! Been too busy being festive and jolly to post. Cooked a big turkey dinner for my friends and fam. Baked up a storm. Gave. Received. Caught up with old friends. Managed to have a drama-free christmas, which is huge in my circle.

Off to see my personal trainer today (to make up for all that eggnog, and scalloped potatoes, gravy, stuffing, yada yada). But let me leave you with this: my article on sneaker activist Al Cabino is in today's DOSE (scroll to page 15). Cabino is lobbying Nike to release the high-tops from Back to the Future II--the holy grail for sneaker freaks--but some folks think that his decision to call himself an activist is off-base.

Also, made my own decision: I'm moving to New York City this year. Don't know when or how or where I'm going to get the paper to do it--but it's in the works. It's just time. All the Van City folks who are tired of reading me bitch about my hometown should be happy (what up Charlie, Nic, Jac).

B.C. Beat Battle

Futility Records and Spectrum Events presents B.C.'s first-ever Beat Battle. The entry deadline has been extended to December 26th. You can enter here.

Press clips

In hip-hop news...

Elliott Wilson and Jimi Izrael have got the internet going nuts. Dope questions from Jimi, dope answers from Elliott.

Benzino loses it on JB from Ozone Magazine. Allhiphop argues there's two sides to every story (link via Jay). Cause calling someone a slut monkey could have many different interpretations.

The Saturday Night Live "Narnia" hip-hop track/skit is getting big-time buzz. I wondered if that might happen when I saw it. It manages to spoof hip-hop without taking the usual white-people-with-raised-eyebrows-cleverly-clowning-hip-hop-route that annoys the hell out of me (and other writers). And musically it's not bad, in an early Beastie Boys kinda way. My first thought was: if these two wack dudes from SNL can record a decent track, what's wrong with half the hip-hop industry? (Note: this doesn't mean SNL is funny again, cause it's not. And it damn well needs to be. For the love of god, you are SNL. Step up your game. Jon Stewart has you licked.)

Very long (but well-done, I hear) article on Biggie's murder in the current Rolling Stone (link via Ian).

Check out this interview with Saigon (link via Hattie). Saigon is one of my favorite rappers right now. But I wanna know: where the funk is his album? I am getting sick of Warning Shots (I have bumped it so much) and I want the new shit. I also want an interview. Holler.

The New Workout Plan

Wow. Lots to report from the last few days. Friday night Jacquie and I went down to the Tokyo Lounge to see 3D spin. His set--which lasted a full two hours--was eclectic and inspiring. A true music lover's smorgasbord. The break kids were lovin' it. For some reason, I didn't even get my Shakira on out on the dance floor. I was happy to just chill in a booth and soak it all up. There's something so satisfying about hearing songs you adore and haven't heard in years blasting from enormous speakers. Big shout out to DJs Needle Kineval, Pluskratch and Hedspin, who held it down when 3D wasn't on the ones and twos. Here's a flick from the night (photo credit Jac):














Saturday night was the rehearsal dinner for Best Friend's wedding. BF is Italian so it was a multi-course extravaganza that started with antipasto and ended with tiramisu. Wedding day began at 8 a.m. with a private yoga class. The instructor got us all to pull Goddess cards and gave us each a reading. Normally I find stuff like that nauseating and hopelessly flaky, but my card proved very intriguing. It was the "Leap of Faith" card. It said that I should make a move that I've been contemplating for a long time. That if I just take the risk, my material needs will be taken care of. That indecision is what is holding me back. That it's time to put my heart's desire into action. Could it be that the time has come? Hmmmmmm.

After yoga, it was breakfast, hair, makeup, photos, and a ceremony so moving that yours truly was all weepy walking down the aisle. Best Friend's man was crying, and seeing dudes teary always makes me lose it. The day was pure magic. I was so honored to be there. Congrats to Nicole and Mike. I love you guys.

Yesterday I just sat around and drank tea and read a book. Then went to Jac's to meet her man (who is here for the holidays from London). We ate a lovely roast chicken dinner and talked way into the night about hip-hop and food and travel and big cities and all kinds of other things.

My love of food has kicked into overdrive for the season, and so (as a preemptive strike, because a big booty is nice, but a tummy is not), I am meeting with a very cool personal trainer today to work out. Will let you know what that's like. I tend to opt for low-key exercise (yoga, walking on the beach ect), but as my bro says: messing around on Kits Beach drinking coffee is not exactly gonna keep you fit. You know I'm not going to stop loving food anytime soon (I hate those salad-with-low-fat-dressing chicks anyway), so we'll see how the training goes. More later.

More on African Hip-Hop

Checking in with some news about African hip-hop. Today the Uganda Hip-Hop Summit is taking place in Kampala. Peace to Krazy Native, Babaluku, and Francis from the Ugandan Hip-Hop Foundation (and my girl Lee from South Africa, who is on a serious award tour right now!). Wish I could be there with you all. Soon...

Also, if you are interested in African hip-hop documentaries, africanhiphop.com has two films posted that you can download: Chicken & Pentium One and BLING: Consequences and Repercussions.

You can watch some African hip-hop videos here.

Tomorrow the Baobab Urban Youth conference is taking place in Amsterdam.

I really wanna see this film. African hip-hop is on fire right now. For real.

The best flyer ever

Do come down to the Tokyo Lounge tonight for Get Up, Get Down and kick it with us.

Top 10 Albums 2005

My Top 10 list of albums for the year ran in the Straight today. If you are too lazy to click on the link (which I often am when I'm reading blogs), here's the titles in no particular order:

Kanye West Late Registration
In the man’s own words: “I didn’t do no sophomore slump/I did the sophomore Jordan jump”.

John Legend Get Lifted
Legend is the only dude in urban music who can make lines like “You can’t say I don’t love you just ’cause I cheat on you” and “I keep strapped up when I sleep around” sound hopelessly romantic.

50 Cent The Massacre
I hated on 50’s sophomore disc when I reviewed it earlier this year. But I’m big enough to admit I was wrong. The Massacre just gets better and better with time. Infectious hooks, bangin’ beats, and near-hypnotic rhymes make this an infinitely listenable outing, whether you love 50 or hate him.

Young Jeezy Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
The hottest debut of 2K5, bar none. Repping for Atlanta, Jeezy is utterly compelling with his gritty thug tales, and his collabo with Akon, “Soul Survivor”, is easily the top street anthem of the year. Yeeaaahhh.

K’naan The Dusty Foot Philosopher
Somali-Canadian emcee K’naan’s stunning debut is making noise across the globe. With a distinctive voice (a sonic cross of Eminem and Bob Dylan), a witty sense of humour, a fresh perspective on American gangsta rap (“If I rhymed about home and got descriptive/I’d make 50 Cent look like Limp Bizkit”), and lots of heart, K’naan has fans from Africa to the Americas nodding their heads to his single “Soobax”.

Common Be
Following his ultra- bizarre release Electric Circus, Common is back to true Resurrection form, getting his grown man on with a collection of beautiful, insightful tracks. “Go” gets my vote for sexiest song of the year.

Smoxz Holy Smoxz
The most engaging rapper to emerge from Van City’s underground in years, Smoxz brings to the hip-hop table an arresting flow, an off-the-hook stage presence, penetrating lyrics, and seriously polished beats (courtesy of Stylust). His views on gangsta rap are real talk: “If you ever met a thug, then it’s nothin’ you want to be”. I have big hopes for this MC.

The Game The Documentary
Although it’s true that Dr. Dre protégé the Game isn’t the most skilled rapper ever to spit rhymes, it’s undeniable that he has something unique to offer. The dude is ardently, unabashedly in love with hip-hop, and it’s kinda refreshing. Plus, the beats on his debut are bananas.

Bocafloja Jazzyturno
Mexican rapper Bocafloja handed me his disc at a concert in Venezuela and I haven’t been able to stop bumping it ever since. With stirring, whimsical beats and a flawless flow, Bocafloja bests the bulk of North American rappers out right now.

50 Cent Music From and Inspired by Get Rich or Die Tryin’ the Motion Picture
There’s a real simple reason why 50 is on top right now: he writes hot records. This album solidifies his King Shit status with a collection of scorchers featuring the G-Unit clique and recent signs Mobb Deep and M.O.P.

My Block

I need to go back to yoga. If you read the article below, you will understand why. (And since I say some not-very-nice things about my hometown in it--and Best Friend is sure to kick my ass if I blog bad about Van City one more time--let me offer the above photo for balance. The city is breathtakingly beautiful right now. Still boring, though. Ooops.)

Assuming the Lotusland position
By TARA HENLEY October 12, 2004 (The Globe and Mail)

I often think that I grew up on the wrong side of the country, that I'm simply not West Coast material.

Unlike the majority of my fellow Vancouverites, I am fanatically obsessed with time and totally addicted to work. I prefer Prada to Mountain Equipment Co-op any day of the week. I bump Jay-Z in my Discman, not Jack Johnson. I abhor decaffeinated beverages, I don't hike, or camp
--or even Rollerblade, for that matter--and I'm constantly getting irritated with folks who amble leisurely down the street. (Don't they realize that some people have places to go?) So it should come as no surprise that I've always detested the idea of yoga.

As is usually the case, my bias has quite a bit of history to it. I was raised between two artistic, intellectual households. Now I appreciate what my parents gave me--a love of the arts, sharp critical-thinking skills, an unquenchable appetite for learning, a sense of social justice--but back then I just wanted a mom who baked cookies and a dad who played golf.

Instead of teeing off, my father, a Buddhist poet and psychologist, set up a shrine on the second-floor landing of our False Creek townhouse. In my early teen years, I was constantly crashing into him in some contorted yoga pose, or else finding him cross-legged, silently meditating.

With the kind of biting scorn that high-school girls are experts at, I thereafter denounced anything and everything that I deemed "hippie"--which, in the end, translated into an enormous laundry list that included soy products and self-help books (I still can't stomach those), as well as incense, herbal tea, Banyan Books, The Naam Restaurant, and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

Yoga absolutely topped my list of Flaky Things To Be Avoided. Why in the world would I pay to go somewhere where everyone was busy breathing heavily and greeting each other with misty-eyed marathon hugs?

You can imagine my surprise when yoga became ultra-trendy with the non-fat latte set. All over Kitsilano, I saw people clad from head to toe in Lululemon apparel, displaying their yoga mats like trophies, and stretching out their limber joints at crosswalks. My hippest girlfriends approached me regularly. "Come to yoga," they urged. "It's so relaxing. Plus, it's a great place to meet guys."

Of course, I thought, because hanging out in a downward facing dog is always ideal for chatting up prospective dates.

So I kept resisting yoga and working long hours as a journalist. In the meantime, my body was showing signs of the stress I was under. I was cranky; I developed a raging resentment against my e-mail in-box; I had fantasies about drowning my cellphone. I was experiencing shortness of breath; my shoulders were as hard as rocks; my sternum began making involuntary clicking noises. Lots of nights, I couldn't sleep.

I may be a Type A personality, but I am certainly not a glutton for punishment. I wasn't enjoying these symptoms, and I knew that I needed to find a way to cope with stress. After reading music mogul Russell Simmons's autobiography, Life and Def, in which he credits yoga for his transformation from workaholic executive to happy, balanced billionaire, I decided to reconsider my anti-yoga stance. The clincher came when I heard that rapper 50 Cent had taken it up, too. If someone as gangsta as Fifty can get down with it, I reasoned, surely I can give it a shot. Armed with steely resolve--I would relax, damn it, whether I liked it or not--I set off to my local yoga studio.

Who knew that yoga was so utterly fabulous? From the first hour I spent on that comfy mat in that calm room, I was hooked. I discovered that stretching, breathing, and meditating in a room full of others (who are prohibited from talking to you) is the perfect antidote to the chaos of modern urban life. How else can you obtain an hour of total relaxation in the middle of a hectic day? What other form of exercise encourages you to work at your own pace, not push your body, and nurture yourself?Far from being some New Age, hippie-dippy trend, yoga has quickly become a foundation for my mental and physical health. It quiets my mind, strengthens my muscles, treats insomnia, increases my breathing capacity--and allows me to block off periods of time that are for me and me alone. No cellphones, no small talk, no faxes or e-mails or couriers.

Make no mistake--I'm still not a model of serenity. Some days I spend the silent relaxation period of class making mental to-do lists and anxiously watching the clock; last week I almost lost it on a spaced-out chick who accidentally left her stinky socks on my mat. But, aside from these occasional relapses, I feel calmer, healthier, and more content. Now I actually qualify as a Lotuslander--and most of the time I don't even cringe at that fact.

Water

Took the afternoon off yesterday (bliss!) and went to see Water with Jacquie. So good. The cinematography was so lush and beautiful, and the acting was striking. The film examines the plight of widows in India, and it triggered some serious death threats against Indian-born, Toronto-raised director Deepa Mehta. Thought the film was very moving. Me and Jac had a good cry afterwards, and then went for sweet chai and spicy curry at a fav Indian spot. Don't know why everything always comes back to food with me, but it does. (And no, I am not 300 pounds.) Maybe I should be a food columnist? Nah.

Best Friend is getting married this weekend and I am getting ready to walk down the aisle with her. (The bridesmaid dresses are these cute little black cocktail numbers. Very cosmopolitan and sexy.)

Can I kick it?

Your girl has been busy as hell. Filed (count 'em) 8 articles in the last ten days and I am beat. A couple of things to report, though, before I kick back, turn off my damn cell phone, unplug my laptop, and go awol for the rest of the day.

There's a big debate going on in this country over gun violence. Kardi has some good thoughts on the subject. Over the past year, gun-related homicides have gone through the roof, especially in Toronto and Vancouver. About a week ago, a Van City artist and skateboarder was murdered by a stranger outside of club downtown (scroll to page 4). Rest in peace, Lee Matasi.

Things are getting heated here. It seems to me that in other cities, if someone gets shot, there's more often than not a reason behind it (beef, etc). Here, it's completely random violence, which is infinitely worse. I am not even going to the clubs right now. Why bother? It's not like our nightlife is hot or anything, so the risk/reward ratio for partying is all out of wack.

In other news...

The new Bow Wow/Ciara collabo is absolute garbage. I was watching the video last night thinking, "are they for real?" So wack. Musically, and in every other way.

I went to see Kanye's concert on Sunday night. Dude proved once and for all that he can talk the talk and walk the walk. Holy crap, his show was good. Beautiful sets, a live string section, off-the-hook backup singers. Plus, he wasn't afraid to just let go and be his weird, quirky self.

Had an interesting phone interview with cool-as-hell T-Dot writer Susana Ferreira, who is working on a big project on Canuck hip-hop journos. Watch for her.

My friend DJ 3D from NYC is going to spinning at the Tokyo Lounge this Friday night. If you are in Vancouver, come by and check him out.

South African Hip-Hop

Just got an email from my girl Lee (the queen of South African hip-hop) who is at the Baobab Urban Youth Conference in Cape Town. Sounds like it's an amazing event, and super well-organized too. Lee is opening the conference with dead prez.

Shout-out to Emile from Black Noise, who is there as well. And Hempza from Black Sunday.

Kanyeezy cover story

OK, so my Kanye cover dropped today. Whew, that was hard to keep quiet. My editor swore me to secrecy cause it was an exclusive for Canada. It wasn't your average interview, that's for sure. 'Ye and I got in a bit of a fight, but it got worked out in the end.



Here's my 50 Cent concert review, too (photo credit: Rebecca Blissett). And a review of a bullshit box set.

Got my mind on my money, and my money on my mind.

H to the Izzo

Listening to Young Jeezy and baking brownies. Normally, I bump Saigon when I get my Betty Crocker on (weird, right), but thought I would try something new. Jeezy is hot and all, but I wish he would stop hollering "Yeeeeaaaaahh" all the time. It gets on my nerves.

Been thinking about Toure's Rolling Stone cover story on Hova.










One of the best pieces of music journalism I have read in a long time, for a number of reasons, but mostly because it was so moving. That's what I want when I read a feature profile. I want to feel something.

Jay is a fascinating dude. One of my hobbies is reading books on business, entrepreneurialism, and success and I found the section on Jay's approach to Def Jam really interesting.

The early months of Jay's first year as President were a bit rocky. "When I first started it was stale," Jay says. "I wanted to quit right away." He wondered if he could resign without public embarrassment. "There was nothing fresh, there was no excitement, it was just doin the same shit over again. I said where's the passion? Where's the ideas? Where's the new shit? I'm used to bein around entrepreneurs and we was passionate about everything. But [in a corporation] whether this artist comes out and does 400 million or 40,000 the first week, their check is the same. So you're doin everything routine, routine, routine, and you lose the passion for it. You stop comin up with new ideas and you start erasing the name off the marketing plan and fill it in with another name and it's the same shit." Then he realized that as the President it was his responsibility to inject the energy and passion. So he planned a company retreat.

At a two-day company-wide retreat at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in Manhattan, Jay gave an opening address, then played the 1984 Def Jam sales presentation tape to remind them of the passion that'd pulsed through the company when it was small, independent, and revolutionary. Then, because most of the staff knew little about their co-workers, Jay had everyone talk a little about themselves and why they got into the record business in the first place, to remind them of their early passion for the business. "We got people to go back to that inner kid and the joy of being in the record business," he said. "I wanted them to be alive again."

The stuff on Jay's issues with his father was totally captivating as well.

Jay's father's leaving is one of the most traumatic moments of his life, a moment that led him to become emotionally cold. "I'd say I changed a little bit." He paused. "I changed a lot. I became more guarded. I never wanted to be attached to something and get that taken away again. I never wanted to feel that feeling again [of being left]. I never wanted to be too happy or gung ho about something or too mad about something. I just wanted to be cool about it. And it effects my relationships with women. Cuz even when I was with women I wasn't really with them. In the back of my mind I'd always feel like, when this sh!t breaks up, you know, whatever. So I never really just let myself go. I was always guarded, always guarded. And always suspicious. I never let myself just go." (He says that because he's never let himself go he's never once been heartbroken over a girl. "Never, ever. Never. Never.")

Plus, you can't beat Toure's account of the I Declare War concert.

.

I can't believe that there are still people out there who think Jay is just some money, hoes, and clothes rapper with nothing to say.

Front Street

Hmmm. Listening to Alisha's "Mr. Man" and "Girlfriend." Things have been moving at the speed of light and I really need to chill the funk out. If you know me, you know that anytime I get busy I go a bit overboard on the caffeine, which makes me a little less relaxed than normal. (OK, so I'm rarely relaxed. Whatev. That's me. Love me or leave me alone.)

Really missing New York this aft. In Vancouver, when I get grinding like I am now, I am a complete anomaly. Nobody moves like that here. This is the weed capital of Canada. Folks are happy to get smoked out, amble around, drink herbal tea, and gaze at the mountains. I spend all my time getting pissed and pushy on the street. Like, 'Yo, space case, how about you get the hell out of my way? I got shit to do.' In NYC, everyone rolls like that. In fact, sometimes it's me that gets the evil eye cause I'm not getting on the train fast enough. These are the kind of things I think about when my head is swimming with album release dates, and deadlines, and clever titles (at least I think so), and interview questions.

Something strange has happened to me since I got back from traveling. I went to some pretty dangerous cities and I got accustomed to walking around with a certain kind of awareness: non-suspicious (cause most people in any 'hood are just going to work and buying food and dealing with their day), yet hyper-alert (cause one or two aren't). That 'I'm-not-sweating-I'm-cool-but-still-minding-my-own-business-and-also-not-some-corny-clueless-tourist-so-don't-jack-my-shit' kind of attitude that you need to get by in some places. The problem is that I still have it, and it's more than ridiculous to be walking around Van City with that vibe. My girls have been teasing me about it. Like, 'What are you looking like that for? What are you really going to do if someone does come up on you anyway? Fight?' Not freakin' likely.

This and that

First Fifty piece is out in DOSE this morn. Here's the PDF (scroll to page 14 and zoom in). Member that joint "all I wanna do is zoom a zoom, zoom, zoom and a boom-boom"? Was watching old episodes of In Living Color yesterday and I saw Jennifer Lopez getting her fly girl on to that track.

K-OS and Divine Brown owned the Canadian Urban Music Awards last week.

Also, when Game was working with 50 and they recorded "Hate It or Love It," don't you think Fifty should have taken him aside and been like, "dude, it's not really cool for you to call me Five-O."

The Kid

Yeah, so I spent my entire weekend working. Friday night Jac and I went to a magazine party and then we went to see 50's movie. It's growing on me. The first time I saw it, it left me a little cold. But this time I felt different. More moved. Saturday I read the 50 book, which I enjoyed. Did you all know that 50 did time in rehab? He says that it was cause there was drugs in his bloodstream from cooking crack for his operation and that the judge figured he was an addict and gave him rehab instead of prison. (He spent the whole time there conning the counselors and charming them with his big-ass grin. My question for him is this: So are those skills you learned in rehab transferable? Do you use them on reporters? I say hell yeah. Have you read that GQ article?) As for the rehab story, don't know much about these kind of things, but I was talking to this friend of mine that's a recovered addict and he said that the whole crack-in-bloodstream-from-handling-it line is some bullshit. Who knows.

Also listened to the movie soundtrack (feeling "Window Shopper" and "I'll Whip Ya Head Boy") and checked out the video game. Then Sat night went to the concert. Can't say too much cause I'm writing a review, but I will say that the fellas were d-r-u-n-k. Jac and I were in the press box, and this dude was hanging over the side of the barrier hollering at us and every other decent-looking chick that walked up the stairs. He was actually barking at us. I asked him what response he could possibly expect to that. He shot back: "I'm hoping for a meow." Then he demanded that me and Jac supply our digits. We were all, "Sure. Holler at us at 555-5555." Please. Come correct or don't bother.

It's all about Fifty this weekend cause I have not one, but two articles on him coming out this week. I was supposed to do a sit-down interview with him yesterday, but he decided not to do any press because of the government's attempts to block his entry into the country. Booo. I already can't stand the (not liberal at all) Liberal party and now they have gone and messed up my chance to nab the biggest interview of the year. Big screw-face to that. Plus Buck, Yayo, M.O.P., and Mobb Deep couldn't get across the border, which obviously made me plenty heated. All I need is to hear "Ante Up" live and I will be satisfied forever (forever? forever ever.)

I had a dream the other night that I was having a party at my spot, and I was sitting in my room gossiping with my girls, and 50 came in to sing a song, strumming chords on his ukelele. And that, friends, is how you know that you are a certified workaholic (or hip-hopaholic anyway)--when you start having bizarre dreams about it all.

In my hood

It's snowing in Van City and I'm not mad at all. Been up since before dawn taking care of business. Just filed a big feature that has been eating all my time for the past week or so. I won't front, I got a little angsty on that one.

Have a couple phone interviews and then I'm going to get my hair did, and head out to a x-mas party for a local mag. Jac is finally back from London and we are going to do it up tonight. And then, tomorrow night, we're gonna go see 50's show. Listening to the man himself right now, "Outta control."

Just discovered this blog, which I'll be reading from now on. Well-written, personal, and funny as hell. Everything that I like in a blog.

50 hits Canada, Kardi speaks on Canadian hip-hop

Read fellow Straight writer Martin Turenne's interview with 50. Especially liked this passage:

“How to Rob” was a better publicity stunt than it was a rap song, mostly because it demonstrated 50’s rare talent for playing it both ways. The number positioned him as someone who could threaten to kill you but do so with such relentless charm that you couldn’t help but like him. In psychology circles they call this being a sociopath, but in pop culture we call it being a superstar.

And here's my interview with Kardinal Offishall (who opens for 50 Cent on Saturday night in Van City). Check his quote on the Mos marriage.

"And as far as the whole Mos Def–getting-married thing, I really don’t know what to say about that whole scenario. I got a lot of friends from the States that are DJs that are like, ‘Yo, I want you to bring me up there, hire me, because I want to come up and get married.’ "

"A lot of people think that it’s really hilarious because one thing that we do have a reputation for in Toronto is having some of the most beautiful girls in the world,” he continues. “That’s a regular comment when people come up here. They’re like, ‘Oh, my God, there’s so many good-looking women.’ So when Mos Def got married here, guys were like, ‘Ah man, I’ve got to come back up to Toronto and find myself a wife.’ That’s not necessarily how I wanted Toronto to be seen, but what are you gonna do? I guess sometimes any attention is good attention."

Hilarious. And, yep, we do have hot chicks in Canada. You know how we do up here.